Astrosat, an astronomical satellite

• The Indian Space Research Organization intends launching Astrosat, an astronomical satellite, in 2015. 
• The country’s first satellite dedicated to astronomy, which will gaze out at the universe in x-ray, ultraviolet and visible light bands. 
• To be launched aboard a PSLV rocket, the satellite would have six pieces of equipment built by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
• ASTROSAT will be a multi-wavelength astronomy mission on an IRS-class satellite in a 650-km, near-equatorial orbit. 
• The expected operating life time of the satellite will be five years. 
• The data its instruments supply should help scientists to have better understanding of the ways of the cosmos, whether it is black holes.
• ASTROSAT is envisaged to be a National Observatory which will be available for astronomical observations to any researcher in India. 
• Although most of the observation time will be for the use of Indian researchers, a part of the ASTROSAT observation time will also be made available to International astronomical community on a competitive basis.